Since joining AEW last year, Josh Mathews has fallen in love with wrestling again.
Mathews, a former commentator for WWE and TNA Wrestling, now works for AEW as a line producer. Production is a role that Mathews first transitioned to during his final years with TNA, but he feels like he’s been learning the job through osmosis even dating back to his WWE career. It’s a side of the business that Mathews really enjoys.
On AEW Unrestricted, Mathews noted that he’s been trying to get into AEW ever since the promotion was founded. He ended up eventually departing TNA in 2025 following a change in management. After that, he reached out to AEW producer Sonjay Dutt and production head Michael Mansury, who he already had connections with through working together in TNA and WWE.
“I mean, honestly, since the inception of the company, I have been trying to work for AEW,” Mathews said. “I used to bug a certain EVP all the time about getting a job there and coming over. And when things were first kind of starting, I mean, if we’re just letting the cat out of the bag completely, you know, I was with another company, obviously, and then Sonjay Dutt went over. So I was bothering him about it all the time, like, ‘What is it going to be? Like, what is it about? What have you heard? What’s going on?’…
“With the change of management and ownership [at TNA], things didn’t work out. And I called Mike Mansury and called Sonjay again. And a year later, here we are. And I’m on this podcast with you guys. And it’s been great.”
Mathews is a long-time wrestling fan, and he’s happy to have reconnected with that part of himself now that he’s with AEW. He feels like everyone in AEW genuinely cares about each other. It doesn’t matter who comes up with an idea, all that matters is that the idea is good.
“Being here for the last year, and I’ve told this to Tony Khan, I have fallen in love with wrestling again,” Mathews said. “AEW has done that for me. And I loved wrestling as a kid. It was my favorite thing. It’s all I ever wanted to do. I think my story has been told pretty well over the years. But being here and seeing the passion, the dedication, the teamwork. You and I were talking before we started this about how in Australia you guys were over there and it all just comes together magically. And it isn’t for a lack of an incredible team being built by some amazing people.”
Mathews feels like he’s back in the major leagues for the first time since his WWE career ended, though he stressed that he does not mean that as an insult toward TNA. In AEW, his role has him on the headset in the production truck making sure that everything goes smoothly.
Madison Rayne, Mathews’ wife, also works for AEW as a coach for the women’s division.
Mathews appeared on the All In preshow panel and also interviewed Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay in a backstage segment.
According to a report from PWInsider, Mathews started with AEW as a producer in May. He later appeared backstage during an AEW event in a video posted by his former WWE Tough Enough castmate Maven. In the video, Mathews commented on his new role in AEW, saying that he is currently shadowing the EVP of Global Production, Mike Mansury.
“Right now, shadowing Mike Mansury,” Mathews told Maven in the video. “I’ll do the Ring of Honor matches before, then I’ll sit, watch AEW Collision, then do the Ring of Honor matches after. So, it’s a busy night.”
Mathews exited TNA Wrestling in February after having been with the company for over a decade. He served as the promotion’s play-by-play announcer from 2014 until 2021. His most recent role with TNA was as Senior Producer and Senior Director of Digital Media. Prior to joining TNA, Mathews signed with WWE as a commentator in 2001 after finishing as the runner-up to Maven in the original season of Tough Enough that same year.
After the out-of-nowhere exits of longtime TNA Wrestling front office workers Josh Mathews and Christy Hemme Wednesday, the company released a brief statement addressing their departures in addition to naming a new president.
From their statement first released to SI’s Jon Alba:
“The new TNA Wrestling President is Carlos Silva.
George Veras is the new Executive Producer of the Anthem Sports Group. George is the 10-time Emmy Award-winning president and Chief Executive Officer of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises, as well as president of Veras Communications, Incorporated.
Josh Mathews and Christy Hemme are no longer with the Company. We appreciate their commitment to TNA throughout the years, and wish them well in their future endeavors.”
Silva was named president of Anthem Sports & Entertainment last December, responsible for the growth of TNA, Invicta Fighting Championships, and the Fight Network. He replaces Anthony Cicione in a role he took over from Scott D’Amore in February following D’Amore’s release. Cicione will reportedly remain within Anthem according to Fightful.
Following a 13-year-run with WWE, Mathews signed with TNA in 2014 where he would spend 11 years in a variety of roles including as the longtime broadcasting voice through January 2021 before solely focusing on other duties.
Hemme, who spent two years in WWE from 2004-05, signed with TNA in the spring of 2006 before departing in 2016 after a run as an in-ring wrestler, ring announcer and backstage interviewer. She was rehired in 2022 to oversee TNA’s social media presence.
As of yet, neither Mathews or Hemme have addressed their departures.
TNA Wrestling made significant backstage changes on Wednesday, according to reports from Fightful Select and PWInsider.
Anthony Cicione is no longer serving as TNA President, a role he took over from Scott D’Amore in February following D’Amore’s release from the company.
Additionally, Josh Mathews and Christy Hemme have exited the company. Mathews, who had been with TNA for over a decade, most recently served as Senior Producer and Senior Director of Digital Media. He joined TNA in 2014 shortly after being released from WWE, where he had worked since finishing as a runner-up to Maven on the first season of Tough Enough in 2001.
Hemme, who returned to TNA in 2022, had been overseeing the company’s social media. She previously worked with the promotion from 2006 to 2016, primarily as a ring announcer and backstage interviewer.
Fightful Select also reports that Anthem has brought in new executives. George Veras will take over as Executive Producer for Anthem Sports Group, while Andrea Pagnanelli has been named Senior Vice President of Marketing.
A new Impact Wrestling commentary team will debut at this weekend’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view.
Starting at Hard to Kill this Saturday, Matt Striker will be Impact’s new play-by-play announcer and D’Lo Brown will be on color commentary. Striker and Brown will also call episodes of Impact weekly going forward.
Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne had been Impact’s commentary team. Impact Wrestling announced that Mathews has been promoted to senior producer for their programming. Mathews has also signed a new multi-year contract with Impact Wrestling.
Rayne will discuss her wrestling future at Hard to Kill. It was reported last month that Rayne is leaving Impact Wrestling for a career outside of wrestling.
“My play-by-play career has spanned nearly 20 years — from WrestleMania to Bound For Glory to incredible moments from IMPACT Wrestling on AXS TV,” Mathews said in a press release. “Producing will allow me to have a bigger role in the overall production of our weekly show, PPVs and IMPACT+ Specials.
“This transition has been a great process, Matt and D’Lo are bringing a fresh energy and are ready to go. It was a special year in 2020, and both Madison Rayne and I will always be grateful for the opportunity and look forward to these exciting changes.”
“I’ve always loved professional wrestling. It is a love that unites so many people,” Striker said. “Pro wrestling is a sport and I want to be mindful to call it as such. I’ve learned and grown so much since I began, and I thank the fans — and the critics — for that. It is not lost on me the opportunity that is before me — I can once again lend my voice to the sport that I love. In doing so, I’m poised to describe, analyze, and witness the most advanced athletes the sport has ever seen. I am excited, nervous, thankful, and humbled. I cannot wait to get out there. You will always be able [to] hear the fan in me.”
“I’m very excited to join the IMPACT Wrestling broadcast booth and I know working alongside Matt Striker will be a lot of fun,” Brown said. “I believe in IMPACT Wrestling, with its amazing roster of skilled Superstars and Knockouts — and can’t wait to have the best seat in the house to call all the action. I’m humbled to follow the IMPACT broadcasting path of Don West and Mike Tenay, and most recently Don Callis, Madison Rayne and certainly Josh Mathews. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity. I know there are big shoes to fill, but Striker and I will do our best.”
Hard to Kill will be headlined by AEW World Champion Kenny Omega & Impact Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) facing Impact World Champion Rich Swann & The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) in a six-man tag match.
On an free Easter edition of the Best of Wrestling Observer Live, catch up with any of the interviews you missed from the universe’s most-widely heard episodic wrestling and MMA show, hosted by Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive.
We kick off with Dave Meltzer (Thursday) discussing Ronda Rousey’s issues with two televised ESPN interviews and why he thinks it wasn’t as bad as people made it out to be, the possibility of Randy Orton getting into the Hall of Fame someday, and whether Hulk Hogan and WWE are a thing again.
We transition to Impact Wrestling’s Josh Mathews who discusses the company’s relationship with Twitch, the changes within the company, and what’s new with him.
We move to regular guest “Dr. Lucha” Steve Sims who gives his thoughts on the passing of website friend Matt Cleary, Lucha Underground’s lack of buzz, Mesias leaving AAA after two decades, and more news.
Finally, we close it out with independent wrestler Brody King. He discusses his start in the business, his band, the similarities between the two, and what the latest is with his career.
Enjoy this free Best of Wrestling Observer Live and tune in every Monday-Friday and Sunday via this website or the Sports Byline radio network.
When someone proclaims themselves “the greatest” or “the best”, it usually splits opinion a few ways. It worked well for Muhammad Ali, Pele, and Floyd Mayweather and, within the world of wrestling, Chris Jericho.
Earlier this year, when Impact Wrestling’s Josh Mathews said this about himself in regards to the current list of wrestling commentators, it struck a nerve with many wrestling journalists and fans alike.
Now, reality and storyline have become blurred as this Sunday, he will return to the ring for a tag match with Scott Steiner to take on Joseph Park and fellow Impact Wrestling commentator Jeremy Borash at the Slammiversary XV ppv.
I interviewed Josh recently where we discussed the upcoming match:
Josh Mathews the character vs. Josh Mathews the real person
Why he would choose MMA if he was breaking in now
Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor
Getting in ring shape
Impact’s ratings on Pop
NFL star DeAngelo Williams wrestling at Slammiversary
With two of Impact Wrestling’s announcers involved in a match at Slammiversary, the company is bringing in both a familiar voice and a new one to call the pay-per-view.
Impact announced today that Don West and Robert Flores will be the announce team for Slammiversary. West was formerly one of the voices of Impact alongside Mike Tenay. He parted ways with the company in 2012 but returned to work with ShopTNA at the beginning of this year.
Flores works in television for both the MLB and NHL networks, which he joined after leaving ESPN in 2016. He’s a longtime pro wrestling fan and was slated to serve as the co-host of “The Ric Flair Show” on the MLW Radio network earlier this year before Flair decided that he didn’t want to continue with the podcast.
With “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero in the middle of things, announcers Josh Mathews and Jeremy Borash have been feuding since the relaunched version of Impact debuted. Mathews and Borash will meet in a tag team match at Slammiversary, with Mathews teaming with Scott Steiner and Borash teaming with Joseph Park.
Slammiversary will take place on July 2nd at the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida. It’s Impact’s first major PPV since last October’s Bound for Glory event.
Previously: Bruce Prichard ordered Josh Mathews and Jeremy Borash to choose teams to face each other in the culmination of their feud.
Tonight: Team JB (Alberto El Patron, Chris Adonis, Matt Morgan & Magnus) battles Team GOAT (Bobby Lashley, Bram, Eli Drake & Tyrus). Plus, Braxton Sutter & Allie take on Sienna & KM.
Show Recap —
Reno Scum defeated Laredo Kid & Garza Jr. and Decay (w/ Rosemary)
Luster the Legend ran wild on Decay until Abyss cut him off with a chokeslam. Laredo Kid took out Abyss with a springboard dropkick and Adam Thornstowe followed up with a dive to the floor. Luster tossed Crazzy Steve into Garza Jr., who was trapped in the Tree of Woe. Reno Scum used the surfboard/double foot stomp on Steve to win the match.
– On commentary, Jeremy Borash and Josh Mathews argued throughout the previous match. Mathews promised to leave the commentary booth if his team doesn’t win later. Mathews took off to the back to take a phone call after the match.
– In the back, Andrew Everett argued with Shane Helms and X Division Champion Trevor Lee. Everett goaded Helms into being the fourth man in the four-way match later.
– Bruce Prichard came out to reveal the fan vote to determine the number one contender for the Impact Championship. It was between Ethan Carter III, Matt Morgan, and James Storm. Storm won and an angry EC3 charged out to the ring.
Prichard told EC3 to take a look in the mirror and ask himself what happened to the guy he used to be. Prichard pointed out that EC3 not only lost to Alberto El Patron, but he also tapped out. EC3 promised to take Prichard’s advice and will decide what to do next.
Allie & Braxton Sutter defeated Sienna & KM
KM worked over Sutter until Sutter gave KM a suplex in the corner and Allie tagged in. Sienna scooped up Allie, but she got tripped up and Allie scored the win.
After the match, the fury was unleashed when Kongo Kong made his debut. Kong beat down Sutter in the corner. Laurel Van Ness ran in and teamed up with Sienna to beat down Allie.
– Mathews returned to commentary during the match. He had a very important phone call about his team he had to take.
Rosemary was in control of the match until Garrett made a comeback. She got in a flurry of offense, then missed a handspring moonsault. Rosemary hit the Red Wedding to win.
– Angelina Love and Davey Richards made out like their careers depended on it backstage. The Interviewer guy asked if they had any remorse for beating down Eddie Edwards and Alisha last week. They didn’t and went back to making out.
Andrew Everett defeated Marshe Rockett, Suicide and Gregory Shane Helms
Helms spent the match on the floor and would jump in whenever a guy was down alone in the ring. Helms finally came in, but Everett dominated him and sent him to the floor.
Rockett missed a huge crossbody and Everett hit the Shooting Star Press to win. After it was over, Trevor Lee and Helms jumped Everett, but Everett hit the Frankendriver on Lee.
Davey Richards (w/ Angelina Love) defeated DJZ
Richards knocked down DJZ and went to the floor to celebrate with Love. DJZ hit a dive, then followed up with a crossbody for a near fall. DJZ attempted the ZDT, but Richards pushed him off and hit a vicious kick. Richards locked on the ankle lock to win the match.
Eddie Edwards and Richards tried to brawl after the match, though security kept them separate. Alisha ran down and brawled with Love before referees broke it up.
– The video package for Veterans of War aired again.
Team JB (Alberto El Patron, Chris Adonis, Matt Morgan & Magnus) defeated Team GOAT (Bobby Lashley, Bram, Eli Drake & Tyrus)
Mathews enthusiastically cheered on his team and argued with JB throughout the match.
Lashley teased starting with El Patron but tagged out to Drake. Adonis and Bram tagged in and went back and forth. Magnus came in and unloaded on Bram. The heels took over on Magnus until El Patron came in and ran wild.
The heels isolated Adonis and cut him off from his corner. Tyrus missed a Vader Bomb and Matt Morgan got the hot tag. El Patron nailed Tyrus with a superkick. Lashley took out El Patron with a spear. Magnus made the blind tag, then Morgan hit the Carbon Footprint on Bram. Magnus came off the top with an elbow drop on Bram for the victory.
JB celebrated and danced at ringside. The rest of the babyfaces on the roster came out and celebrated Mathews leaving. Mathews was clearly very upset.
Next Week: Impact World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley defends against “The Cowboy” James Storm.
Previously: LAX won the Impact World Tag Team Championship in a four-way defeating Reno Scum, Decay, and Garza Jr. & Laredo Kid.
Tonight: Eddie Edwards will battle Davey Richards in a last man standing match. Also, Impact will feature a Knockouts gauntlet battle royal to determine the next challenger for Knockouts Champion Rosemary. Plus, Josh Mathews and Jeremy Borash reveal their team members for an upcoming match.
Show Recap —
Eli Drake (w/ Tyrus) defeated Caleb Konley
Konley was in control of the match until Tyrus helped Drake takeover. Konley made a short comeback but Drake hit his finisher to win the match.
– Jeremy Borash and Josh Mathews argued after the match. Bruce Prichard ran out and called them in the ring. Prichard was sick of their bickering and ordered both to pick teams. Prichard said that next week their two teams would face off to finally settle this matter.
Borash and Mathews went back on commentary and they were both on their phones putting their teams together throughout the night.
ODB and Madison Rayne were the final two in the Knockouts gauntlet battle royal
– Ava Storie and Madison Rayne started the match off. Mathews stood up and cheered for Rayne as she entered the ring. Rebel was out next and briefly worked with Rayne to double team Storie. Amanda Rodriguez was out next, followed by MJ Jenkins. Diamante was next and ran wild. Rebel eliminated Rodriguez.
ODB entered and dominated all the Knockouts. ODB gave a splash to all five Knockouts that were piled in the corner. ODB tossed out Storie. The final entrant was Brandi Rhodes, who quickly eliminated Diamante. Jenkins dumped out Rebel but ODB and Rhodes worked together to eliminate Jenkins. Rayne sneaked up and eliminated Rhodes.
ODB defeated Madison Rayne
The match then turned into a singles bout. ODB quickly hit the TKO to become the number one contender for the Knockouts Championship.
– James Storm came out to his old music and is back to being “The Cowboy.” Storm said that five years ago new management took over and told him that there is no room for a character like “The Cowboy.” He said the night he won the World Championship was the highest rated Impact.
The DCC interrupted Storm. Bram stood in the corner holding a chair. Kingston said that Storm lied to him about everything. Storm said he did everything for them but they didn’t live up on their end. Kingston spit in Storm’s face and Storm responded with a Last Call superkick. He followed that up with a Last Call to Bram as well.
Andrew Everett defeated Marshe Rockett and Suicide
Everett hit a sweet looking twisting corkscrew to the floor. Suicide scored a close near fall but Rockett broke it up. Everett knocked Suicide off the apron and hit a shooting star press on Rockett to win the match.
– Backstage, Davey Richards and Angelina Love were making out when the interview guy interrupted them. Richards promised to bury Eddie Edwards and then the rest of the Impact roster.
Davey Richards (w/ Angelina Love) defeated Eddie Edwards in a last man standing match
They brawled into the stands to start things off. Edwards attempted a plancha from the stands but Richards moved and Edwards crashed onto a garbage can. Edwards powerbombed Richards through two steel chairs. Later, Richards superplexed Edwards onto a pile of chairs.
Edwards’ wife, Alisha, appeared at ringside to cheer on her husband. Love passed Richards a steel chain. Edwards trapped Richards head in a chair and then hit a double foot stomp from the top. Love jumped on Edwards so Alisha ran in and brawled with Love at ringside. Love knocked out Alisha and entered the ring.
Love held Edwards and Richards wrapped a chain around his leg. Richards had second thoughts but Love told him to do it for her and kissed him. Richards kicked Edwards in the side of the head to win the match.
– A video aired for the arrival of a new team. The video included George W. Bush talking about the 2003 Iraq War. The graphic “Veterans of War” appeared on the screen.
– LAX celebrated Santana and Ortiz winning the Impact tag titles in Orlando.
Alberto El Patron defeated John Bolin
El Patron dominated the majority of the match. He hit the double foot stomp for the win. After the match, he promised to defeat Bobby Lashley for the World Championship.
– Backstage, KM and Sienna got into an argument with Braxton Sutter and Allie. Karen Jarrett broke it up and announced a mix tag for next week.
– Another “Fury Will Be Unleashed” promo aired. Sienna showed pictures of Sutter and Allie to a mysterious man.
Jeremy Borash and Josh Mathews Revealed Their Teams
Bruce Prichard returned for the reveal of the teams. It’ll be an eight-man tag match with four on each side. Mathews’ first pick was Impact World Champion Bobby Lashley. Borash’s first pick was Alberto El Patron.
Mathews’ second pick was DCC member Bram. Borash went outside the roster for his second pick, which was Chris Adonis (formally Chris Masters in WWE).
For his third pick, Mathews introduced Eli Drake, who was followed by the final member of the team — Tyrus. They jumped Team Borash and beat them down. Borash then introduced the third member of his team — the returning Matt Morgan. Morgan and Lashley had a staredown.
In the back, somebody exited a car and headed into the Impact Zone. The Pope speculated that it’s Borash’s final team member. Impact was out of time and he said to check out Impact’s website to find out who the final member is.
Impact uploaded a video online revealing the fourth member — GFW World Champion Magnus. The heels were in control until Magnus joined up with the rest of Team Borash to clear the ring of Team Mathews.
Next Week: Team Borash (Alberto El Patron, Chris Adonis, Matt Morgan & Magnus) will battle Team Mathews (Bobby Lashley, Bram, Eli Drake & Tyrus). Plus, KM & Sienna take on Braxton Sutter & Allie.
